Sharks

[Pablos]

Is it possible to keep these together in the same tank? If not why?

 

[andywg]

It's possible, though expect some hostility from the black shark towards the silvers.

The main reason most don't is because silvers shoal and grow over a foot and therefore need a much larger tank than the 5-6" black sharks need (like 6x2x2 instead of 30 gallons)

 

[Pablos]

So it can be done then? i only have 1 silver at the mo, should i get another silver and a red tailed black?

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

how big is your tank

 

[Pablos]

The tank is 188 litres

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

its nowhere near big enough for silver sharks.

 

[Pablos]

So a 4ft by 16in by 18in isnt big enough for silver sharks?

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

silver sharks grow to over a foot so the short answer is yes a 4 foot tank is too small for them

 

[Pablos]

The shark i have at the mo is only small when the time comes for him i will move him to a bigger tank, Im having one built into my front room eventually

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

thats the problem woth silver sharks you see many people dont know that they get so big because they are so small when the lfs sells them i still wouldnt recommened keeping them in your tank and mybe taking the one you have back to the lfs untill you new tank is built

 

[Pablos]

He is only about 4inches at the mo, how long will it take for him to get too big then? i have had him for nearly 2 years

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

im not really sure as ive never kept them my brother in law has though so ill ask him for you

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I wouldn't keep RTBS with bala/silver sharks as RTBS tend to be agressive towards anything remotely shark shaped or that looks like them- red tailed black sharks may not be so agressive when they are young and small, but will get more so as they mature.
Your tank is indeed too small for bala sharks but not for an RTBS, mind you though they can be very terotorial fish so you should be very wary of having it when you stock your tank as it may prevent you from getting numerous other fish species.

 

[andywg]

My silver sharks have gone from 2" to around 8" in less than two years. They are skittish for big fish, have a high level of oxygen required and are fast swimmers. I would not consider keeping one more than 6-10 months in anything less than a 6 foot tank with a 6x2x2 being the minimum for a shoal of adults (though by looking at my 6x2x2, that might not even be big enough to comfortable house them a couple of years).

If a tank is big enough to house silver sharks you can keep a RTBS with it as RTBS don't tend to chase much into the actual water column, more around the rocks/ornaments/wood that it classes as its territory. And if you want to stop the rtbs taking up the whole tank, drop in a doradid or two; my (less aggressive, but still grumpy) rainbow shark had no luck trying to boss about some Platydoras costatus).

 

[Pablos]

I must have a migit shark then lol, so is it worth getting a rtb or not